Electric sewing-machine outfit



3 Sheets-Sheet 1 R n N w? F. DIEHL ELECTRIC SEWING MACHINE OUTFIT Filed001;. 8 1925 Jdn'. 31', 1928.

F. DIEHL ELECTRIC SEWING MACHINEOUTFIT Y Filed Oct. 8 1925 ssheets-Sheet 2 myENT R jab/4y:

' ATTORNEY Jan. 31, 1928.

DIEHL. v ELECTRIC SEWING MACHINE OUTFIT Filed Oct. 8, 1925 3 Sheets-Shet3 ATTORNEY- Patented Jan. 31, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK DIEHL, OF ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE SINGER Im-FACTUBING COMPANY, 01 ELIZABETH, NEWFJ'ERSEY t- CORPORATION OF NEWJERSEY.

Application filed October 8, 1925. Ber!!! 80. 61,170.

This invention relates to motordriven sewing machines such as arecustomarlly stationed for use on a specially constructed sewing machinetable having a top which is usually apertured for reception of thesewing machine.

The present day demand is for a table which, although speciallyconstructed for the su port and operation of a sewing machine,l1 of alibrary table when not in use, with nothin conspicuous to suggest itsrelation to mac iner Outfits of this character commonly comprise atable, a sewing machine, a motor for driving the sewing machine, and afootor knee-operated device for controlling the speed of the motor; manyusers preferring a foot-controlled outfit. In the case of thefoot-controlled outfit, however, as heretofore constructed, thefoot-controller is a pedaloperated rheostat which is mechanicallydetached from the remainder of the outfit; be-

ing merely connected electrically in the mofrom the motor circuit, thecord coiled up,

and the controller and cord, which make rather a bulky and troublesomepackage, stored away, usuall in a cupboard drawer oron a closet shelWhen preparin the machine for use, the controller is p aced upon thefloor and the cord uncoiled and connected in the motor circuit. Withfootcontrolled outfits of this type there is a tendenc of the controllerto creep over the floor an a possibility of its being accidentallyoverturned. Due to the fact that the controller occupies no fixedposition on the floor, relative to the table, it is necessary for theoperator to peer under the table to find the controller before placingthe foot on the pedal.

The primary object of the present improvement is to provide afoot-controlled electric sewing machine outfit of the library table t peretaining the advantages of neatness of appearance and lack ofsuggestion of machine use when closed, and eliminating the abovereferred to disadvantages of prior foot-controlled sewing. machineoutfits.

as the neat and graceful appearance vertical section through the table.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and in part behereinafter more full described.

the attainment of the ends in view a sewlng machine table, preferably ofthe four-legged type having no cross braces or he rods between the legs,has a pedal element detachably connected to the lower end of one of itslegs, which latter is preferably of hollow or longitudinally channeledconstruction to receive and conceal an operative connection extendedupwardly from the pedal to a motor speed-controlling element or rheostatstationed near the upper end of such leg and preferably below the tabletop. The detachable pedal-element is of lightwei ht non-bulkyconstruction and is unencum ered by connecting wires, so that it may beeasily removed from the table-leg and stored when not in use.Furthermore its operative position relative to the table is fixed, andconsequently is easily found by the ,operators foot. Still further,there is no danger of tipping it over.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a librarytable sewing mac ine outfit embodying the invention; the table beingclosed. Fig. 2 is a transverse Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33, Fig.2. Fig. 4 is a vertical section throu h the lower end portion of thehollow leg 0 the table. Fig. 5 is a vertical section on the line 55,Fig. 4. Fig. 6' is a pers ective view of the detachable pedal mem er.Fig. 7 is a disassembled perspective view of the pedal shaft, cam-shaftand cam-shaft bearing. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the crankelement. m

Fig.

vided on the controller rock-shaft. 9 is a. transverse vertical sectionthrough a library table sewing machine outfit embodying a modificationof the invention. Fig. 10 is a fragmentary bottom plan View, partly inhorizontal section, of the parts shown in Fig. 9. Fig. 11 is a view onthe line 11, 11, Fig. 9, with the sewing machine removed. Fig. 12 is afragmentary view of the parts, similar to Fig. 9, but showing theconnection to the sewing machine controller as broken. Fig. 13 is abottom plan view of the guide for the shiftable connector ele-' ment.Fig. 1i is a perspective view of the shiftable connector element; andFig. is a perspective view showing the shiftable connector element inoperative engagement with the controller rock-shaft.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, 1 represents asewing machine table having the top 2 and hin ed cover leaves 3. Thetable includes the etachable legs 4, 4, end-walls 5, front wall 6 andrear wall 7; the space within such walls constituting a cavity below thetable-top into which the sewing machine 8 is lowered through theaperture 9 in the table-top, in the usual manner, when not in use. Thelegs are removably secured by screws 4 to the iron braces 4 which jointhe ends of the table skirt members 5,6 and 7. The sewing machine 8 isdriven by an electric motor 10 preferably constructed and mountedsubstantiall in accordance with the disclosure in the iehl et al. PatentNo. 1,488,234 of March 25, 1924.

Fixedly mounted in the cavity of the table on an end wall 5 andindependently of the sewing machine 8 is the motor controller 11 whichis preferably constructed substantially in accordance with thedisclosure of the pending application of D. H. Chason, Serial No.750,734, filed Nov. 19, 1924. Such a controller comprises a compressiontype rheostat including a porcelain body 12 having wells filled withstacks 13 of carbon disks to which variable operative pressures areapplied by means of the bridging bow-spring member 14 and its operatingpull-rod 15. The pull-rod 15 is operated by the bellcranklever 16fulcrumed at 17 and en aged by the cam-edge 18 on the arm 19 fixed tothe controller rock-shaft 20 journaled in the beam ing'21 and steadiedat its outer end by the bearing bracket 22. A limited rocking movementof the shaft 20 thus serves to control the speed of the motor 10 byvarying the electrical resistance of the motor circuit.

The table leg 4' is longitudinally channeled or hollow and has fitted tothe horizontal aperture 23 in its lower end, the bearing sleeve 24 forthe cam 25 and bearing 26 for the ca'm-shaft 27. The cam 25 is formedwith a flat cam-face 28 upon which rests the lower end of the rod 29extending upwardly and concealed within the hollow leg 4'. The rod 29slides in the guiding bushin s 4". The cam 25 is formed at one end wit atooth 30 adapted to be engaged by the tooth 31 of a detachable pedal.The edal preferably comprises a pedal-arm 32 aving at its free end alateral extension 33 for engagement'by the operators foot. The pedal-arm32 has fixed to its opposite end the enlarged cylindrical head 34 of ashaft-section 35 to which a tubular shaft-section 36 is fixed by meansof the pin 37. The shaft-section 36 is adapted to he slipped over thecam-shaft 27 so that its tooth 31 will engage the tooth 30.

of the cam-member 25.

To afl'ord reaction pressure for the pedal there is preferably provideda floor rest 38 having a foot 39 and bearin boss 40 journaled on theshaft 35. A spring 41 is coiled around the shaft-head 34 and is anchoredat one end 42 to the arm 32'. The other end of the spring41 bearsagainst the car 43 of the member 38. 'When the pedal 33 is depressed thecam-face 28 will lift the rod 29 which has fixed to its upper endportion a lateral arm 43, Fig. 2, extending into the cavity of the tablethrough the s 0t 44 in a guide-plate 45. A. sprin 46 surrounding the rod29 within the tablle-lm and bearing downwardly upon the hub of the arm43 insures retention of the rod 29 in engagement with the face 28 of thelifting cam 25.

The arm 43 is tapped to receive a finely adjustable lifting screw 47which impin s under an offset or crank-member 48 on t e collar 49 fixedto the controller rock-shaft 20. A lifting movement of the arm 43 andscrew 47 will thus cause a. rocking movement of the shaft 20 and aconsequent reduction of the electrical resistance of the rheostat 12 anda speeding up of the sewing machine motor. The screw 47 permits therange-of motion of the controller rock-shaft 20 to be nicelyco-ordinated with the range of motion of the rod 29.

When the outfit is not in use the sewing head 8 together with its motor10 is lowered from its position in the table aperture 9 into the cavityof the table and the pedal member 32 is detached from the leg 4' and thetable closed, whereupon the outfit has the appearance of a non-specialor library table, as shown in Fig. 1.

The modification of the invention illustrated in Figs. 9 to 14,inclusive, is adapted for the operation of a portable type of sewinmachine. In this case the table is formed with an a erture top 50 andsupporting legs, one of w ich legs 51 1s hollow. The table has a cavitybelow its top in which is mounted the stationary shelf 52. The sewingmachine, which is of the portable type, comprises the usual sewing head53; motor 54 and hollow wooden base member 55 nf the,

usual carrying case. The base member 55 has mounted within it acontroller 56 which is preferably of the same construction as thecontroller 12 and has an operating rockshaft 57 to which is fixed acollar 58 formed with a tooth 59. The sewing machine and motor, togetherwith the base 55 rest as a removable unitary assembly upon the shelf 52;the base 55 being received within the aperture 60 in the table-top 50with the upper surface 61 of the base flush with the table-top.

Concealed within the hollow leg 51 is a rod 62, the lower end of whichrests upon a. cam-lifting device 63 of the same construction as the cam25 and associated parts previously described. This cam device 63 isoperated by a detachablepedal member 64 fixed to the rocking and endwisemovable shaft 73 which is journaled in the bracket 7 4; the screw 66being in lifting engagement with the lever 7 0. The shaft 73 isprojected into an aperture in the base and over the controllerrock-shaft 57 and is formed with coupling means in the form of an endshoulder 75, Fig. 15, which engages complementary coupling means in theform of a tooth 59 of the collar 58. The rod 62, when lifted,-willswing-the lever upwardly and lift the arm 72, thus rocking the shaft 73and the. controller-shaft 57.

When the outfit is not in use the shaft 7 3 may be withdrawn from thecontroller rockshaft by means of the handle 76 and turned to carry itsarm 72 clear of the lever 70 and the shank of the handle 76 intoengagement with the retaining notch 77 in the bracket 74, as shown inFig. 12; the withdrawal of the shaft 73 bein efiected against thepressure of the spring 8. In this position of the parts the end of theshaft 74 is clear of the base 55 so as not to interfere with the removalof the unitary portablesewing machine assembly from its position in thetable.

The controller operating mechanism thus includes an elementcarried bythe table and projectible into the sewing machine base for connectionwith the motor-controller, which element may be withdrawn to permitready removal of the sewing machine from the table.

The table may be shipped with the legs removed and readily re-assembledfor use by one not possessed of special training or mechanical skill;the mere act of attachment of the hollow leg 4' to the table correctlylocates the screw 47' or the screw 66 relative to the respectivecoacting follower element 48 or 70.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what I claim hereinis:

. 1. An electric sewing machine outfit comprising a table having atable-top and a plurality of supporting legs free of connection with oneanother below their upper end-portions which adjoin the table-top, asewing machine carried by said table, a motor associated with the sewingmachine, a motor-controller connected to said motor, a controlleronerating connection extending downwardly within and concealed by one ofsaid legs, and a pedal detachably connected to said connection adjacentthe lower end of said one of said legs, said pedal being free ofconnection to the remaining legs.

2. An electric sewing machine outfit comprising a sewing table having atable-top and supporting legs, one of which legs is hollow, a sewingmachine carried by said tabletop, a motor associated with the sewingmachine, and a motor speed-controller connected to said motor, a pedalconnected to said hollow leg, and an operative connec-- tion betweensaid pedal and controller housed within said hollow leg, said operativeconnection including an adjustment screw for coordinating the range ofmovement of the controller to that of the pedal.

3. An electric sewing machine outfit comprising a sewing table having atable-top and supporting legs. one of which legs is hollow, a sewingmachine carried by said table-top, a motor associated with the sewingmachine, and a motor speed-controller connected to said motor. apedal-shaft mounted transversely of said hollow leg adjacent the lowerend of the latter and free of connection with the remaining legs, avertical rod concealed within said leg and connected at its lower end tobe operated by said pedal-shaft, means operatively connecting the upperend of said rod to said speedcontroller, and a pedal detachablyconnected to said pedal-shaft.

4. An electric sewing machine outfit comprising a sewing table having atable-top and supporting legs, a sewing machine carried by saidtable-top, a motor associated with the sewing machine, and a motorspeedcontroller connected to said motor, a cam housed in one of saidlegs, a rod actuated by said cam, means operatively connecting said rodto said speed-controller, and a pedal connected to said cam.

5. An electric sewing machine outfit comprising a sewing table having atable-top and supporting legs, a sewing machine carried by saidtable-top, a motor associated with the sewing machine, and a motorspeedcontroller connected to said motor, means for operating said motorspeed-controller, and a pedal detachably connected to one of said legsand said mean-s, said pedal including a floor rest, a pedal-shaftjournaled in said floor rest, a pedal-arm carried by said shaft, and areaction spring intermediate said floor rest and said pedal, arm andshaft- 6. An electric sewing machine outfit comprising a sewing machineand drivingmotor, a table carrying said sewing machine and motor, saidtable having a top and being formed below its top with a cavity forreception "of the machine when not in use, said table also includingsupporting legs, a motor speed-controller connected to said motor andfixedly mounted in said tablecavity independently of the sewing machlnecontroller operating mechanism associa with said table including anelement extending downwardl within one of said legs, and a pedal detacably connected to sald clement adjacent the lower end of said one ofsaid 1e 7 An e ectric sewing machine outfit comprisin a sewing machlneand driving motor a tab e carryin said sewing machine and motor, saidtab e havin a top and being formed below its top with a cavity for re-'ception of the machine when not in use, said table also includingsupporting legs, a motor speed-controller fixedly mounted in saidtable-cavity independently of the sewing machine, a controller operatinpedal detachably connected to one of sai tablelegs, and an operativeconnection between said pedal and controller in permanent opand anoerative connection between said gedal an controller concealed withinsaid ollow leg, said connection including a vertically movableslide-rod, and a liftm arm secured to the upper end of said sli e-rodand adapted to engage under and lift said crank-arm to rock thecontroller-shaft.

9. An electric sewing machine outfit comprism a table including atable-top and detachalfie supporting legs, a sewin machine carried bysald table, a motor asrgoclated with the sewi machine, amotor-controller carried by sald table, a pedal operated member mountedin one of said detachable legs, and means operatively connecting saidpedal-o erated member and said controller, and means including coactingelements carried respectively by the table and said one of said legs andada ted to be cooperatively related by the act 0 attachment of such legto the table.

10. An electric sewing machine outfit comprising a table including atable-top and supporting legs, a sewing machine carried by said table, amotor associated with said sewing machine, a motor-controller mountedunder said top, means housed in one of said legs for actuating saidcontroller, and a pedal extending into said leg for operating saidmeans.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

FREDERICK DIE H L.

